We at The (real) Stepford Wives believe in taking full advantage of of the bounty available of local growers. While there may be cheaper fruits, meats and vegetables available, we do not know the distance they have traveled or how long they have just sat in a warehouse. When you take the time to purchase ultra fresh locally grown you can rest assured that they're not just sitting around. Some also some sell farm fresh organic eggs, cheeses and convenience foods, so look around. We also suggest purchasing all the fresh herbs you will use throughout the week on your large shopping day.
Building a profession relationship with a real butcher is far better than just picking out what looks good, among the tightly wrapped in plastic offerings at the supermarket. Your butcher, once getting to know should offer suggestions on sales or upcoming events. Also building a reputation with a competent fish monger is another grand suggestion. When entering such an establishment, inhale deeply. It simply shouldn't smell like fish. If it does, walk out because it's either not clean enough or the fish is old. It should and often does have a mild fish odor that doesn't knock you out as you walk through the door. Again they will and should be more than happy to alert you to specials they might offer. Some of our husbands don't care much for farmed fish, so when the good stuff from the ocean is available our fishmonger will always alert you.
A good bakery is another find although we prefer taking the time to bake our own special treats, they can be a point of inspiration for flavor combinations you might not have thought about. Like adding curry powder to caramel, or cayenne pepper to chocolate.
Always develop a good relationship with a wine steward at your finer grocers or wine shop. Especially if you aren't sure what to serve. The staid idea of red with meats and wine with everything else is passe, a good Stepford Wife always knows that the wine served is the one our husbands enjoy.
A well stocked pantry is also a must, simply because one cannot always run to the market. Baking soda, or baking powder have tight expiration dates, keep some on hand unopened if you do not use them often. Keep a variety of vinegars, we use champagne, red wine, sherry, rice wine, good balsamic, the more traditional distilled (purchased in a huge gallon size since it's great for laundry) and apple cider vinegars. For oils we routinely keep a good selection of canola, a few bottles of different Olive Oils, extra virgin and light that's generally used just for cooking or pan frying. Taste your olive oil. Some are just lovely (not to mention much more healthful) and are great for dipping bread. Others might be best left for cooking or salad dressings. You decide. Also keep a few cans of good quality unsalted, whole or diced tomatoes. Always purchase the best you can afford, we routinely pass on the $1 cans of Del Monte tomatoes in lieu of the more expensive and far superior can.
This brings us to something else. Always purchase reduced salt or unsalted items. Americans have too much salt in our diets (nearly double of our European brothers and sisters) and we are currently one of the few countries that insist upon using corn syrup instead cane sugar in a sodas.
And yes, we too have seen the commercials proffered by the corn industry telling us that its safe (in moderation) and your body cannot discern the difference. However, there are also numerous studies that demonstrate that corn sugars, attribute greatly to something called insulin resistance, which is the leading cause of type two diabetes. So the commercials while technically true are being disingenuous to the threat against us. Our husbands reminded us that studies are done by scientists and are made to be read by their peers who understand thoroughly their findings. Not to be taken apart by lay people or those on dole of the industry featured in the study.
